Automatic circuit-closer for telegraph-keys.



No. 707,3l2. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

J. E. FOLSOM.

AUTOMATIB CIRCUIT QLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH'KEYS. (Application filed. Aug. 99, 1901.)

'(NoM odeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 707,3l2. Patented Aug. I9, I902.

u. E. FULSOM.

AUTOHATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH KEYS.

(Application flledAug. 2a, 1901. (No Model.) 2 Sheen-Sheet 2.

IIIIEM' UNITED STATES JOHN E. FOLSOM, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

MITCHELL, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH-KEYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,312, datedAuguSt 19, 1902.

Application filed August 29, 1901. 'SerialNo. 755F766- (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. FOLSOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mitchell, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Automatic Circuit-Closer for Telegraph-Keys, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to make a device which will automatically close the circuit of a telegraphline when the key is released and which will automatically open the circuit when the key is. grasped and to make the device either as an integral part of the telegraph-key or make it as an attachment to be applied to the keys at will. I

My invention consists of the novel features herein shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a telegraphkey with my circuit-closer attached. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a telegraph-key constructed with the circuit-closer as an integral part. Fig. 5 is a top plan of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a crosssectionon the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Figs. 4, 5, and (3 show a modified construction.

Referring to the drawings in detailand first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the clamp 5 engages the key-lever 6 at a point half-way between the key-lever button 7 and the pivot 8. The binding-posts 9 extend upwardly from the clamp" upon opposite sides of the key-lever 6, and the circuit-closing leverlO is pivotally mounted between said binding-posts 9, the central portion of said circuitclosing lever being above and parallel with the key-lever, and the forward end of said circuit-closing lever being turned to the right, while the rear end is turned to the left. The set-screw 11 is fixed in the forward end of the circuit-closing lever and extends downwardly to contact with the manual circuit-closer, and a button 12 upon the rear end of said lever is in position to be engaged by the operators thumb when he grasps the key-lever button 7 and depressed,

thus elevating the screw 11 and opening the circuit. A spring '13 is placed between the key-lever and the circuit-closing lever a short distance back of the clamp, the tension of said spring serving to depress the set-screw 11 and close the circuit. A third button 14 is attached to the rear end of the circuit-closing lever, the post of said third button extending through a notch in the first button 7, thus bringing the third button above the first button in position to be engaged by the fingers of the operator. 1

A rotary slide 16 is mounted on the postof the button 7 in position to engage the button 12 and hold the circuit open when desired. The slide 16 is a piece of tubing loosely encircling the post of the button, one side of the said tubing being cut shorter than the other and the long side being of such alength that it will hold the button 12 down, as shown in Fig. 4, and the short side being of such a length that it will let the button 12 rise to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1. The slide may be manually rotated, as required, to engage or disengage the button 12. The tension of the spring 13 is adjusted by the set-screw '15, and the tension of said spring should be less than the tension of the spring under the key-lever, so that the circuit will be opened before the key-lever is operated. As soon as the operator grasps the key-operating button the circuit is automatically opened without mental or physical effort on the part of the operator. As soon as the operator releases the key the circuit is likewise closed.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the clamp is omitted and the binding-posts 9 are formed integral with the key-lever. It isobvious that it is impossible for the operator to thoughtlessly leave the key with the circuit open. Either the second button 12 or the third button 14 may be omitted or removed at the pleasure of the operator. The manual circuit-closer may also be omitted or removed.

I claim- V -1. The combination with a telegraph-key having a key-lever, of the binding-posts 9 attached to and extending upwardly from the key-lever, a circuit-closing lever 10 pivotally mounted between said binding-posts, the central portion of the circuit-closing lever being above and parallel with the key-lever and the forward end of the said circuit-closing leverbeing turned to the right, the set-screw 11 fixed in the forward end of the said circuit-closin g lever and extending downwardly imposition to contact with the manual circuit-closer, and a button upon the rear end of the said lever in position to be engaged by the operator when he grasps the key-lever button to operate the key, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a telegraph-key, of binding-posts mounted upon and extending from the key-lever, a circuit-closing lever pivotally connected to the binding-posts, a spring in position to operate the circuit-closing lever, a set-screw in the forward end of the circuit-closing lever in position to make a contact and close the circuit and a button carried on the rear end of the circuit-closing lever, in position to be engaged by the operator when he operates the key substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a telegraph-key of a circuit-closing lever pivotally connected to the key-lever, a set-screw carried by the circuit-closing lever in position to make a contact and close the circuit, a button carried by the circuit-closing lever in position to be engaged by the operator when he operates the key, and a spring in position to hold the circuit-closing lever normally in its closed position, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a telegraph-key of a circuit-closing lever pivotally connected to the key-lever, a set-screw carried by the circuit-closing lever in position to make a contact and close the circuit, a button carried by the circuit-closing lever in position to be engaged by the operator when he operates the key, and a spring in position to hold the circ nit-closing lever normally in its closed position, and a manually-operated slide for holding the circuit-closing lever in its open position, substantially as specified.

JOHN E. FOLSOM.

Witnesses:

FRANCES A. Hoovna, SEMER G. WELLS. 

